I have exceeded 30 years in my medical career. I have more than 10 books for my patients and students. For a long time I focused on my research and was not writing a book. So far, I have learned the most information from my patients, and I continue to learn. But now I believe that I should transfer what I learned from my patients to my patients/society.
I am a specialist in internal medicine and nephrology (kidney diseases). I have treated and followed many kidney patients, and I still do. Whatever the cause, I have found the most benefit in the treatment of kidney disease in my patients whose blood pressure is well controlled. I became more concerned with hypertension (high blood pressure) in order to be more helpful to my patients. When I became a hypertension patient myself, it almost became my hobby. Now I live with blood pressure, both as a doctor and as a patient.
Over the years I’ve learned that hypertension is not just a medical illness. Hypertension is actually a treatable social problem. Although there are great developments in the treatment of hypertension, blood pressure control is far from the desired rates even in developed countries. Almost half of patients with hypertension in our country are not aware of their disease, and unfortunately half of those who are aware of their blood pressure are not under control. Moreover, in today’s world where blood pressure measurement/measurement is very easy and common…
I now believe that hypertension is both a medical disease and a social and contagious (although not microbial) problem. I try to establish this point of view in my patients as well. There are drugs for hypertension that are very good, effective and do not impair the patient’s quality of life. There are also lifestyle changes that need to be made (eating less salt, losing weight, moving…) but usually nobody follows it. Ask myself, “Why can’t my patients receive effective treatment, how can I help them more?” This book came into existence. I believe that if I can turn on the light in my patients, I will be much more successful in their treatment. I will contribute to their longer and healthier lives.
I benefited greatly from the experiences of my patients while writing the book. I used their expressions/thoughts in some parts. I tried to write a book that you will enjoy reading and in which you will find yourself and your relatives in most of the chapters. The fact that my patients, whose parts I had read, found the book instructive and entertaining, and were surprised by the simplicity of its language, said, “It’s not like a medical book at all,” increased my motivation. I aimed to help you with the problems you face and to answer the questions in your mind in today’s world where information pollution has become very common. I have emphasized the issues that I find important many times in order to make them more permanent.
I recently lost a friend whom I loved as much as my brother. We edited many books together, we planned and carried out many researches. He was a very successful physician and lecturer in his profession, but he always avoided facing his illness. Even when he had a heart attack, he had chosen to deny it. Those who stray from the truth eventually have to face the truth. There are many people who mislead patients, escape from the truth, and abuse the patient. They mislead patients by affecting them negatively. Moreover, the system that should protect the patient from these negative effects, unfortunately, does not work well. My friend didn’t even have time to face his own truth. He left his loved ones behind and left.
His death affected me deeply. I decided to accelerate my book project to help people with hypertension, those who do not want to be hypertensive, my friends and those who want to learn about hypertension. I wrote as a patient, as a physician, as a lecturer, as a friend, as a guide. Moreover, this time by saying “Do both what the teacher says and what he does”.
Hope it’s useful.
